Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - June 17, 2010
From: Radcliff, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of plant from wildflower mix in Radcliff KY
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I bought a wildflower mixture from local store; after planting, there is a 2 ft bush or plant with flowers that are yellow, and small like those on a cantaloupe, leaves that look like a watermelon, but the plant has spines along the underside of the leaf and on flower buds and flower backs. I threw the packet away so I was wondering what kind of plant I am growing? Thanks!ANSWER:
We never recommend purchasing mixes of seeds for this very reason; you have no idea what is going to come up. Something in that mix could be non-native or invasive, or both, and you would have introduced that plant to your area. Unfortunately, since you do not know if the plant is native, we can't hope to identify it without some more information. Please go to our Mr. Smarty Plants Plant Identification page for instructions on sending us pictures with descriptions. We can't guarantee that we will be able to identify it even then, but we will try.
More Plant Identification Questions
Differentiating between Spiraea betulifolia and Spiraea japonica
April 12, 2005 - How can I tell the difference between Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa (an imperiled species) and Spiraea japonica (an invasive species) in the wild? They both seem to be the same size, color, habi...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
June 27, 2011 - I have a plant my Dad had found years ago. Last of April a stem with bulb shaped bottom. May 6-stem opened and folded back exposing spotted inside of leaf. Bottom had yellow pollen? and green stem 2+ ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
April 06, 2010 - In spot in the garden where tomatoes grew last this year, previous to planting what looks to me like a shamrock plant came up until it bloomed. Now it looks like some of the fuschia plants only the le...
view the full question and answer
Need identification of a bush with red bumpy berries in PA.
October 02, 2009 - Pennsylvania - We are trying to identify a bush that has small red bumpy berries. The berries are the size of a crab apple or a cherry. Can you tell us what it is?
view the full question and answer
Plant Identification from Round Rock TX
October 26, 2010 - I am looking for the name of a ground cover I saw that looked like large bur oak leaf in a silvery green color. It was in the shade. I tried a search with no luck. Thanks!
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |